Parker McCollum released his debut album, The Limestone Kid ten years ago. Now, he’s one of the most talked-about artists in country music and his star continues to rise. He has notched four No. 1 singles, has toured the country, and was named Best New Artist by the Country Music Association. However, in a recent interview, the Texas native revealed that he has doubts about being a country singer.
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Earlier this month, McCollum was preparing to play a show in Tupelo, Mississippi. Ahead of his show there, he spoke to local TV station WTVA 9 about his life and career. During their conversation, he revealed that he may not be a country singer.
Parker McCollum May Not Be a Country Singer
During the interview anchor John Dolusic asked Parker McCollum if he wanted to someday cross over from country music to pop, following in the footsteps of Taylor Swift. “There’s absolutely no chance of anything Parker McCollum doing pop music at any point in time,” he replied. However, he revealed he has doubts about carrying the title “country singer.”
“I’ve wanted to be a country singer for as long as I can remember and the more I do this, the more I kind of realize that I may just not be one,” he said. “The more I try to write country songs and make country records, I feel like the further I get away from what has always made me me,” he added.
“I don’t know what you would call it. But, if you took all of those names that I mentioned and put them in a blender, and not saying it would be what I’ve been writing and recording lately but I think it could come out as something similar to it,” he added. The names he mentioned earlier in the interview included George Strait, Turnpike Troubadours, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, and a host of other artists.
“Country music used to be such a narrow genre. There was a very strict criteria. Nowadays, it’s just not. The criteria is as loose as it’s ever been,” McCollum explained. “The stuff that I’ve been putting down lately, maybe you could call it country music. Maybe it’s Americana. Maybe it’s just music. I don’t know,” he added. “I’ve always wanted to be a country singer but the longer I do it I’m just like maybe I’m not one and that’s okay.”
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